Object

Main Modifications to the Proposed Submission Core Strategy

Representation ID: 21539

Received: 24/09/2013

Respondent: Mr Adrian Hall

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Representation Summary:

This Modification does not sufficiently emphasise two important criteria for planning of housing:

(a) the development should avoid damaging the quality of the countryside immediately surrounding the curtilage of a town. This criterion is frequently highlighted in the 2013 SHLAA and in particular applies to Battle;

(b) the development should avoid placing additional pressure on town facilities such as car parks, roads and shops, unless there are specific remedies. Battle has traffic and parking congestion as well as insufficient space for additional supermarkets. Expansion of housing will either produce unremedied problems; or the remedies will adversely alter the towns character.

Full text:

This Main Modification 7.1 is unsound because it is ineffective. The amended Core Strategy and in particular this Modification do not sufficiently emphasise two important criteria for the planning of housing developments:

(a) the development should avoid damaging the quality of the countryside immediately surrounding the curtilage of a town. This criterion is frequently highlighted in the 2013 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and in particular applies to Battle;

(b) the development should avoid placing additional pressure on town facilities such as car parks, roads and shops, unless there are specific remedies for that additional pressure. Battle is an example of a town with traffic and parking congestion as well as insufficient space for additional supermarkets. Expansion of housing at its periphery will either produce unremedied problems; or the remedies if implemented will adversely alter the character of the town.